Last updated: 2026-03-04
Chevrolet Malibu vs Honda Accord: Reliability Compared
Chevrolet Malibu
Honda Accord
Choosing between the Chevrolet Malibu and the Honda Accord? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize sedans.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Chevrolet Malibu currently leads with an average score of 76/100 compared to 74/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Chevrolet Malibu and Honda Accord Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Chevrolet Malibu is more reliable than the Honda Accord, scoring 76/100 vs 74/100.
The Honda Accord and Chevrolet Malibu both present strong options in the midsize sedan segment, but the Accord edges out in reliability with an average score of 86/100 compared to the Malibu's 83/100. Despite the Accord having a higher recall count of 46 over nine years, its owner complaint rate is slightly higher at 5.7 per 10,000 sold compared to the Malibu's 3.6. However, the Accord benefits from lower estimated annual repair costs at $400 versus the Malibu's $532. While both vehicles have common issues in the electrical system and engine, the Accord's combination of higher reliability scores and lower repair costs may appeal more to cost-conscious buyers prioritizing long-term dependability.
Key Differences
- 1Honda Accord costs $132 less per year to repair
- 2Chevrolet Malibu has 33 fewer total recalls
- 3Chevrolet Malibu has 2.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold
Category Scoreboard
Chevrolet Malibu vs Honda Accord: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Chevrolet Malibu | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 76/100 | 74/100 |
| Years Tracked | 8 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 13 | 46 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 3.6 | 5.7 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $532/yr | $400/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.3/yr | 0.3/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 11% | 9% |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2025 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 5 | 3 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Malibu and Honda Accord?
The Honda Accord has a higher volume of complaints overall, with significant issues in the electrical system, forward collision avoidance, and engine components, which collectively account for a substantial portion of user concerns. Notably, the Accord's service brakes have 18 crash-linked complaints, matching the highest crash-linked category for this model. In contrast, the Chevrolet Malibu has fewer total complaints, but its power train issues are more pronounced, with 308 complaints, although only four are crash-linked. The Malibu's air bag system poses a significant safety concern, with 14 of its 23 complaints being crash-linked, highlighting a potential area of vulnerability not as prominently seen in the Accord.
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.7Very Low | 0.9Very Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 0.9Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| ENGINE | 0.4Very Low | 0.7Very Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.4Very Low | 0.6Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.2Very Low | 0.5Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | 0.7Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.2Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | —None | —None |
| TIRES | —None | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | —None |
| STRUCTURE | —None | —None |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | —None |
| SEAT BELTS | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Chevrolet Malibu or Honda Accord?
How Does Chevrolet Malibu vs Honda Accord Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Chevrolet Malibu | Honda Accord | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 80/1000R / 3C | 84/1001R / 65C | Honda Accord |
| 2024 | 80/1001R / 8C | 76/1006R / 166C | Chevrolet Malibu |
| 2023 | 81/1001R / 23C | 74/10010R / 199C | Chevrolet Malibu |
| 2022 | 80/1001R / 66C | 77/1003R / 201C | Chevrolet Malibu |
| 2021 | 74/1002R / 61C | 78/1005R / 215C | Honda Accord |
| 2020 | 74/1001R / 178C | 73/1008R / 344C | Chevrolet Malibu |
| 2019 | 74/1001R / 181C | 70/1005R / 574C | Chevrolet Malibu |
| 2018 | 62/1006R / 673C | 63/1008R / 1739C | Honda Accord |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Chevrolet Malibu scored 81/100 and the 2025 Honda Accord scored 84/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Chevrolet Malibu vs the Honda Accord?
Chevrolet Malibu vs Honda Accord: Common Questions
- Is the Chevrolet Malibu more reliable than the Honda Accord?
- Based on our data, the Chevrolet Malibu is more reliable with an average score of 76/100 compared to 74/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Malibu or the Honda Accord?
- The Honda Accord has more recalls (46) compared to the Chevrolet Malibu (13). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Chevrolet Malibu or the Honda Accord?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Chevrolet Malibu has a lower complaint rate at 3.6 per 10,000 sold versus 5.7 for the Honda Accord. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Chevrolet Malibu or the Honda Accord?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Honda Accord is cheaper to maintain at $400/year versus $532/year for the Chevrolet Malibu.
- Is the Chevrolet Malibu or Honda Accord safer?
- Both the Chevrolet Malibu and Honda Accord received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Chevrolet Malibu comparisons
How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
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